NFSA Restores Collection: 'Sons of Matthew'

Barnaby Smith's lively and thoroughly researched account of Sons of Matthew not only offers a considered critical response to the film, but also places it in several revealing contexts. These include Charles Chauvel's own background, the difficulties in financing the project, the sheer physical challenges of shooting in a daunting landscape and the cultural climate of the film's production in matters such as racism, sexism and emerging nationalism. It is a film that may offer rewards to a range of historians – of cinema or otherwise.

Additional keywords:
The Rugged O''Riordans, The Big Picture, Queensland, Lamington Plateau, Patongaville, Dengue fever, Michael Pate, Wendy Gibb, Ken Wayne, Thelma Scott, Elsa Chauvel, Greater Union, 1937 Stinson plane crash, Bernard O'Reilly, Green Mountains, Cullenbenbong, How the West Was Won, John Ford, Lost Horizon, Frank Capra, Christianity, Bible, Patrick White, The Tree of Man